The Thread

Unraveling the Mysteries of , Fabrics and Floor Coverings

FABRIC CHALLENGES… Our Picks For “Most Difficult” To Maintain

It could be argued that there prevent damage. This are no “bad” fabrics or floor can result in inferior cleaning Sisal is a very popular floor coverings, only less than results, especially on covering but is unsuitable for practical choices. Starting with moderately to heavily soiled high traffic areas. Unlike most this premise, there are several fabrics. carpet and rug fibers, sisal types of fabrics used for does not have the ability to interior furnishings that are When is woven into a hide soil. Making matters best suited to minimal-use pile fabric (chenilles and worse is the fact that these areas such as formal living velvets) the problems are floor coverings are woven in a rooms and guest bedrooms. compounded. When any flat pattern, leaving the sides The fabrics discussed in this water-based substance comes of the fibers exposed. Soils article should be specified only in contact with a rayon pile, the and spills easily impregnate in such low-use areas. nap flattens, creating a shiny the fibers, resulting in unsightly spot that can appear to be a traffic lanes. “bleached” spot. Attempts to Rayon raise the nap can be difficult if Sisal carpets and rugs are Rayon goes by several not impossible. difficult to clean because they different names…viscose, are prone to cellulosic Bemberg, Art etc. No browning and can shrink when matter the label, rayon fabrics water-based cleaning methods have many inherent problems. “… there are no are used. Dry cleaning bad fabrics or methods are most often Rayon is 50% weaker when recommended but often are wet, shrinks and rings readily. floor coverings, ineffective in removing water- This greatly limits the spotting only less than based spills. and cleaning techniques which practical can be used. Shrinkage from wet cleaning can be significant choices.” on flat-woven rayon fabrics. Linen is actually a very durable Because of the extreme nature fiber unless it is used to create of the shrinkage (most Rayon sometimes finds its way a pile fabric or floor covering. noticeable in draperies or the into pile rugs and carpets, As part of a pile construction, skirts of chairs and sofas), this usually when blended with linen can become a problem should be considered other fibers. These floor maintenance nightmare. before installing rayon in a coverings tend to respond in high-use area. the same way as rayon pile In a velvet construction, linen fabrics (nap flattened by makes an especially elegant Rayon must be cleaned with moisture and “shiny” spots) so and lustrous fabric. One more delicate methods to the same caveats apply. problem specific to velvets in

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general is the tendency to Silk water-based cleaners can develop shading, based on the Like linen, silk is generally a cause significant pile crushing of the fibers. durable fiber but its positives distortion. Because they are so lustrous, are lost when it is used in a linen velvets are particularly pile construction. susceptible to this type of Need Help With shading. Regular brushing Silk has poor resiliency and Upholstered Fabric with a velvet brush can help tends to crush easily. Like Protection Or Cleaning? minimize this problem. rayon, water-based Your local Fiber-Seal Service substances also distort silk pile Center is ready to help and Even more difficult to care for fabrics. When the nap is just a click away. are linen floor coverings. flattened, it can be difficult to Linen can be found in both raise it, but not nearly as broadloom and rugs, most difficult as rayon. often as a loop pile. Resiliency is poor and these Click Here rugs will tend to show crushing Be Careful Of Imposters For in traffic patterns. Oriental rugs sold as “silk” are Locations often made of rayon. Even Cleaning linen floor coverings though rayon orientals feel soft is complicated by the fact that and are lustrous, it is almost http://fiberseal.com/locations/ water-based cleaning can impossible to keep them cause cellulosic browning and looking good unless they are can sometimes stiffen linen hung on a wall. yarns, causing texture changes. Therefore, dry True silk orientals are difficult cleaning is the suggested to maintain but real silk fiber method of cleaning for these responds much better to floor coverings. However, as traditional cleaning methods stated earlier, water-based than does its counterpart stains generally do not made of rayon. Both silk and respond well to dry cleaning rayon orientals are considered methods. “dry clean only” because

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